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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars + A Dream Come True

About a month ago, I nonchalantly checked my email as I went about my normal daily routine. Only this time, I couldn't resist letting out a squeal of excitement as I read the first email that popped through. It was from the Producer at our local Fox 6 News station, and she was asking if I might be interested in appearing on Good Day Alabama as a part of their morning cooking segment.

I couldn't believe it.

After I got past my initial shock, I sent her an email to confirm that I would absolutely love the chance! The segment usually runs about 5 minutes long, so I got to work trying to figure out just what I wanted to make in that time frame. There had been a recipe in the back of my mind for quite some time that I wanted to develop. This was the perfect opportunity. I pictured a dessert bar, which was sort of a combination of a Snickers candy bar and a chocolate chip cookie...a "Snookie" Bar, if you will (no...NOT the Jersey Shore kind!). It sounded delicious, so I put on my apron and started experimenting that night.

The results were quite scrumptious, and I knew that I had my recipe ready. When the big weekend came, my sisters came up from Dothan to be here for the excitement. Fortunately, the segment would be pre-recorded, so that helped me not be AS nervous. But, I have to admit that the days leading up to the segment were filled with nervous anticipation. I was SO incredibly excited! I've dreamed of doing something like this, but never thought I'd EVER actually get the chance.

That morning, we loaded up the car and headed to the studio. As I put my apron on and watched that morning's live newscast being filmed, I realized that it was really happening! Soon thereafter, I was in the kitchen getting the chocolate and caramel melted and making the final preparations.

It was over in a flash, and the entire experience was a lot of fun. Janice Rogers was the anchor that morning helping me along, and she was fantastic.

A BIG, BIG thank you to Suzanne Cornett and Janice Rogers at Fox 6!

I really hope that you enjoy this recipe. The chocolate chip cookie dough is very, very easy to whip together in minutes. The sweet-salty combination of the creamy caramel and chopped peanuts is divine, and there's no better way to top it all off than with milk chocolate!

Just be warned...these dessert bars are entirely way too addictive! :)

Bon Appetit, my friends!

The Fox 6 studio...

Ready to go!

Setting up...

Showtime!

I'm so glad my sisters got to go!

Yumminess...

Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars (aka "Snookie" Bars)

Ingredients:

1 Box Duncan Hines
"Butter Recipe Golden" cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup + 2 tsp. vegetable
oil

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate
chips

2 cups Kraft Premium Caramel
Bits

3 tbsp. heavy cream

1 cup roasted, lightly
salted peanuts, roughly chopped

2 cups milk chocolate
morsels

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 365
degrees F.

Pour cake mix into the
bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on low speed for 30 seconds,
to break up any large chunks of cake mix.

With the mixer still on
low speed, slowly pour the vegetable oil into the cake mix, and then quickly add
the eggs. Increase speed to medium and mix for about 1 minute, just until the
ingredients come together. Next, add the
semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter and mix on low for an additional 30
seconds to combine well.

Coat a 9x13" baking
dish with cooking spray. Pour the cookie
batter into the dish and smooth into an even layer in the bottom of the dish.

Bake in the preheated oven
for 23-24 minutes, or until the cookie layer is nice and golden brown and a toothpick
inserted into the cookie dough comes out clean.
(Be careful not to over-bake. You
want the cookie layer to remain a little soft.)
Set to the side to cool, while you prepare the caramel and chocolate
layers.

Next, pour the Caramel
Bits and heavy cream into a small saucepan.
Over low heat, slowly melt the caramel and cream mixture, stirring
often. Keep an eye on it, because
caramel has a tendency to burn quickly.
Once it reaches a very smooth consistency, pour the melted caramel over
the cookie layer. Using a spatula, smooth
the caramel into an even layer.

Now, sprinkle the chopped
peanuts over the caramel.

Using a double boiler,
melt together the milk chocolate morsels and 2 tsp. of vegetable oil, stirring
often. Once melted, pour the milk
chocolate over the peanuts and caramel and smooth into an even layer.

Place the dish in the
refrigerator and allow to cool for approximately 2-3 hours, or until the
chocolate and caramel harden enough so that you can easily cut the dessert into
bars.

Enjoy!

Notes:

This dessert is best kept at room temperature.

If you do not like peanuts, you can simply
omit them from the recipe, or substitute with chopped pecans, walnuts,
hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.

This recipe for cookie dough is a wonderful,
easy way to make cookies, also. If
making cookies, simply spoon the dough onto a greased cookie sheet (an ice
cream scoop makes this easier and will ensure all the cookies are the same
size). Bake in a 365 degree F oven
and adjust baking time to 12-13 minutes.

When making cookies, be creative with this
recipe! You can substitute almost any flavor cake mix or any flavor
chocolate chips (ex: use M&Ms or chocolate/vanilla swirl morsels
instead of chocolate chips). You can also add shredded coconut, a few
tablespoons of chunky peanut butter or even unsweetened cocoa right to the
batter!

For examples of different cookie recipes, please
visit my other blog posts here: